Chapter 589: with translation of chapter title

Bai Yun stopped speaking further, focusing her attention on the proceedings, and didn't notice that three people had sat silently in the front row.

The host walked onto the stage, adjusted the microphone a bit, read an opening remark, then began the proceedings: "Now I announce that the Lan Lin Gaozhong senior high school graduation ceremony, the coming-of-age ceremony for eighteen-year-olds, and the college entrance exam rally are officially starting!"

On the surface it was a graduation ceremony, but in fact they also postponed the senior high school coming-of-age ceremony to today, so the program was comparatively longer.

The big screen lit up, playing a four-minute campus memory short film.

Next came the flag-raising ceremony; everyone stood and sang the national anthem.

After the ceremony ended and everyone was seated, the principal and representatives of the senior high school homeroom teachers took turns going on stage to award various prizes to the senior high school students and offer blessings, etc.

Next, please have two outstanding students from Class A give speeches as student representatives.

After this series of procedures, an hour had already passed.

The Class A students were very quiet, each doing their own thing.

The host picked up the cue, turned sideways toward the side stage, voice full of emotion: "Over a thousand days and nights of morning reading and evening practice, diligent effort at the desk, running side by side—all of this is vividly reenacted in this moment's light and shadow. Those struggles, companionship, growth, and transformations are the most precious answer sheet of youth."

""Youth has role models; chasing dreams brings strength. Today, the school specially invited outstanding alumni from our school who have entered their ideal universities—excellent senior sisters—to return to campus, to witness our growth and convey strength.""

These remarks obviously elicited little reaction from the high-achieving Class A students.

Until, the pictures on the screen switched; a few slides in a row showed nothing but photos of Mu Youyu from childhood to adulthood holding various awards.

The highlight was the subject award she won in high school.

The host paused briefly, then spoke loudly: "Next, please welcome Mu Youyu, senior sister, to speak on behalf of the outstanding alumni!"

The Class A students all lifted their heads in unison, straightening their attitudes from their earlier nonchalance.

The entire auditorium was drowned out by a wave of involuntary whispering.

""Heavens, Mu Youyu? I didn't mishear, did I? The school really has the pull—how did they manage to invite her?""

""Isn't the neighboring Nan Feng also holding this ceremony? Who did they invite over there?""

""We, Lan Lin, actually snatched them away from Nan Feng.""

""But I heard that the neighboring Nan Feng invited senior brother Mu Xi to give a speech.""

""Why didn't the two schools hold a joint event this year? I'd like to see them on stage together.""

The host ignored those voices, turned sideways to make way, and made a gesturing invitation.

Mu Youyu walked up from the side stage, and the light in the auditorium gathered behind her into a soft silhouette.

She wore a light-colored thin jacket, her hair tied into a high ponytail, holding no script; the microphone in her hand looked especially relaxed.

After taking her stand at the center of the stage, Mu Youyu first swept her gaze across the audience, then slightly curved the corner of her mouth, and when she spoke her voice carried a sense of long-familiar intimacy:

""Respected leaders, teachers, and dear senior high school students, good morning!""

""Today is a day of blossoming April, with only forty-odd days left until the college entrance exam. I am Mu Youyu, a former graduate, and I am deeply honored to return to the familiar campus in this most beautiful April spring light to witness your momentous occasion.""

The moment her words fell, the commotion downstairs turned entirely into astonishment.

""It really is her! I thought I had misheard!""

Xia Chaoyi again began to motivate himself, "Her standing here—does it mean we too can score that well?"

Bai Yun tapped his head, "You want to get a perfect score—don't even dare dream of that!"

Xia Chaoyi truly admired her; he kept criticizing himself, yet dared not say anything.

……

Although the classes had been divided at the start of senior high, Class A remained the same people; once the Class A seniors realized, they gave face by leading the applause.

""Was it just her who came?""

After Xia Chaoyi finished speaking, he looked toward the front row of the auditorium; at first he instinctively glanced that way, but when his gaze settled, he slightly widened his eyes.

Sometime before, three people had appeared in front of him, leaving an empty seat.

The person on the left wore a baseball cap, tilted his head slightly, eyes on the stage, holding up his phone to record, not distracted by the audience below.

The one in the middle lounged against the chair back, his long legs casually stretched into the aisle, playing with his phone for a while, then looking at the stage.

The person on the right sat with the most upright posture, making no extra small movements.

Xia Chaoyi leaned forward from his seat into the gap between the two front seats, "No way—are all three of them really there?"

Bai Yun followed his line of sight, and upon seeing that silhouette matching Mu Youyu's jacket color, she froze for a moment, "Older sister Yu is here, so he must be here too…… but I thought the other two wouldn't come."

Xia Chaoyi clicked his tongue, "Senior Liu really knows how to invite people—this isn't just an outstanding alumni speech; it's clearly bringing back all the old-timers of our Class A."

As if sensing the gaze from behind, Yu Ci suddenly turned his head, lifted his chin toward them, his eyes carrying a hint of teasing.

Xia Chaoyi, caught off guard by this sudden stare, instinctively leaned back a bit, then unconsciously waved his hand at him.

Yu Ci smiled slightly, turned his head back, and continued watching the stage.

On stage, Mu Youyu's speech was already winding down, her pace unhurried: "Finally, I sincerely wish all teachers smooth sailing and a flourishing garden of peach and plum."

""I also wish the junior and senior high school students a great victory in the college entrance exam, to meet again at higher heights! Your future holds infinite possibilities!""

When her speech ended, she handed the microphone back to the host and, amid thunderous applause, turned and walked off the stage.

Most of the audience's eyes followed her as she naturally walked to the front row and took a seat beside Jiang Liangjin.

Bai Yun and Xia Chaoyi almost simultaneously sprang from their seats, and Leng Yueyou, Mo Song, and several nearby classmates also leaned forward.

Mo Song, Leng Yueyou, and several nearby classmates leaned forward one after another, and many other students stood up.

""Older sister Yu, you all really came back—and you even brought Brother Jin and the others.""

""Little Yu, I thought you were just being polite!""

""Senior Liu really is something—she didn't leak a hint, that's too unfair.""

""Then we could have taken the graduation photo together—I want to stand next to Sister Yu!""

""We came especially to see you." Mu Youyu tilted her head, smiled, and politely replied with a few sentences.

Jiang Liangjin took her coat for her, then said nothing more, too lazy to deal with this noisy bunch of brats.

Yu Ci had already linked arms with Xia Chaoyi, who had pushed forward from behind, and they were chatting, "How's it going—have you missed us?"

"Yeah yeah yeah." Xia Chao Yi's gaze shifted and stuck onto Gu Xingnan, "Gu Xingnan, long time no see, I feel you've grown taller."

Last week at Mu Youyu's birthday banquet, several people had attended; Gu Xingnan didn't feel that it had been a long time since he'd seen him, but he didn't show it, "Hmm."

Yu Ci was unhappy, "Why don't you say I've grown taller?"

"All tall, all tall, Brother Ci is the tallest!"

Yu Ci then was satisfied, "That junior really has good taste."

Xia Chao Yi heard that "junior" remark, rarely at a loss for words.